Fanaticism Quote by Gustave Le Bon
““A person is not religious solely when he worships a divinity, but when he puts all the resources of his mind, the complete submission of his will, and the whole-souled ardour of fanaticism at the service of a cause or an individual who becomes the goal and guide of his thoughts and actions.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind, 1895
Devotion to a cause or leader can become a form of religious fervor, demanding total mental and emotional commitment.
In simple terms: Blind loyalty to a cause can act like religion.
Key Takeaway
Channel passion wisely, avoid fanaticism.
Themes
faith
loyalty
psychology
leadership
Mood
intense
reflective
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- political activism
- religious movements
- personal relationships
- career ambition
Key Concepts
cult of personality
ideology
group dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What cause demands your deepest commitment?
- How do you balance devotion with self‑reflection?
A Different Perspective
Such devotion may suppress critical thinking and personal autonomy.
![“To the Jacobins of this epoch [the French Revolution], as well as to those of our times, this popular entity constitutes a superior personality possessing attributes peculiar to the gods of never having to answer for their actions and never making a mistake. Their wishes must be humbly acceded to…” quote by Gustave Le Bon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb6/gustave-le-bon-10163_character_to-the-jacobins-of-this-epoch-the-french_220492.jpg)
![“[Friedrich] Nietzsche said something marvellous, he said "Madness is not a consequence of uncertainty but of certainty", and this is fanaticism.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c8e/elie-wiesel-341_certainty_friedrich-nietzsche-said-something-marve_89498.jpg)